True Meaning Of Christmas

Here's a story about a women that has a visitor 1 week before Christmas, and this is how it happened:

She just finish the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when she heard a noise in the front of the house. She opened the door to the front room and to her surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.

"What are you doing?" she started to ask. The word chocked up in her throat and she saw Santa had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered her with a simple statement...

"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" She was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated her question and with one quick movement brought fourth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As she stood bewildered, Santa said, " Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas have forgotten." Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior of the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him."

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly she heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL, "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return."

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at her and she saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship Him, our Lord, our God."


When I showed these pictures in my previous posts, what did you all think those things meant in the first place?

Fir Tree

Stars
Candles
Wreath
Holly Leaf
Candy Cane

Are they just decorations to you? Or something more than that?...

In this season to be jolly let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas which is the victorious nature of the fullness of the victory of love, the coming of Christ. So as we prepare for greater expectation for His coming, may this preparation bless you, fulfill you an thrill you as we wait, and expectedly hope, to move with this hope, act on this hope, move through all disappointment with the love that does not disappoint, that fills our heart with hope.

May God who is this love, bless you and your family for all your friends, for all needs and concern wherever you are, wherever you at and whatever you going through, always, now and forever.



Love,
Lionel